Beaufou, France wind farm facts and numbers

Beaufou wind farm is located in Pays de la Loire, France. It was completed in 2008 and is owned by .

It is near .

See below for data.

Wind farms, as a general rule call for wind speeds of 4.5 metres per second or more.

The best place for a project like Beaufou might have a near constant flow of non-turbulent wind year round, having a minimum probability of sudden powerful bursts of wind. An important factor of turbine siting is also admission to local demand or transmission capa.

During the planning stages the Beaufou wind farm would’ve been checked and authenticated through wind measurements. However, Beaufou wind farm would have needed more than merely meteorological data and measurements.

Site info around is a major factor in the ‘development’ final decision Winds around are examined for over a year or so plus the introduction of detailed maps. Only then are wind turbines installed.

The wind hits quicker at higher altitudes because of the reduced influence of drag. The rise in velocity with altitude is most spectacular near the surface and is affected by geography, surface roughness, and upwind obstacles such as trees or buildings. Velocity rises with altitude and is more pronounced near land and is transformed by geography, surface and limitations.

Sometimes, the increase of wind speeds with growing elevation follows a wind profile power law, which forecasts that wind speed rises proportionately to the seventh root of altitude. Increasing the altitude of a turbine, then, enhances the expected wind speeds by 10%, and the expected power by 34%.

In general, a distance of 7D (7 × Rotor Diameter of the Wind Turbine) is about between each turbine in a fully developed wind farm. But micrositing optimizes placement, specially in hilly areas.

Individual turbines at Beaufou are connected with a medium voltage (usually 34.5 kV) power collection system and communications network.

At a substation, it medium-voltage electric current is enhanced in voltage using a transformer for link with the high voltage transmission system. Building of a land-based wind farm requires setting up the collector system and substation, and probably access roads to each and every turbine site.